Apparatus for conditioning dry matrices



Feb. 28, 1933. c p -rs 1,899,055

APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING DRY MATRICES Filed Sept. 1, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l 72 FIE l Z5 Z6 454647 l5 INVEXTOR C her/as 14. PM):

' A'ITOR EYS 93 c. A. PITTS 1,899,055

APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING DRY MATRICES Filed Sept. 1, 1928 2 Sheets-$heet 2 FIE E D "n" D 'IIIIIIIIII/IIIII/I/ A TTORIVEYS Patented Feb. 28, 1933 PATENT OFFICE CHARLES A. PITTS, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING DRY MATRICES Application filed September This invention relates to the process and apparatus by which dry mats are dampened and put into condition for receiving type impressions.

Newspapers are customarily printed by coming into contact with cylindrical rolls to the surfaces of which are secured pairs of semi-cylindrical printing plates. Since these plates have been previously molded from the mats above mentioned, they are possessed of all the imperfections appearing on the surfaces of the mats from which they were molded. Such imperfections usually take the form of very shallow depressions, which,

however, are sufficiently deep to cause imperfect and uneven contact between the semicylindrical printing plates and the paper to be printed; The print on newspapers turned out bymachinery defective in this respect is often very weak in spots and sometimes is entirel'y illegible in places.

A matrix in order to properly receive type impressions must first he dampened. This has been done in the past by passing the matrix between a pair of rollers, one of which is partially immersed in a water bath. The water from this partially immersed roller is deposited on and absorbed by the matrix as it passes between these rollers. It has been found that this method of dampening a matrix produces an uneven distribution of water thereon, its central portion absorbing a far greater quantity of water than its lateral edges. To partially overcome this, the ma- 5 trix is turned end for end and again passed between the rollers, but even this expedient does not overcome the uneven distribution of water. The eifect of such an uneven distribution of water is of course to cause the matrix to dry unevenly and to therefore slightly buckle in spots causing the depressionsand consequent objections as above stated.

In general it is the object of this invention to provide a method and apparatus for even- 5 1y moistening a matrix thruoutits entire surface in order to put it in a proper condition for receiving type impressions. V

More specifically it is the object of this inr vention to provide a process for conditioning d'ry mats comprising immersing a mat in a 1, 1928. Serial No. 303,486.

liquid bath and in then expressing a portion of the liquid absorbed thereby during such immersion.

Another object of the invention is the proabsorbed by said matrix in passing thru said tank.

The invention possesses other advantageous features, some of which with the fore going will be set forth at length in the following description where I shall outline in 7 full that form of my invention which I have selected for illustration in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. In said drawings I have shown one form of my invention, but it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to such form since the invention, as setforth in the claims, may be embodied in a plurality of forms.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the matrix conditioner of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. V

Fig. 4 is a partial vertical section taken on the line 4--4l of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a partial vertical section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 2.

My invention contemplates the use of a frame generally designated as 6 and con sisting of a set of four legs secured together at their lower ends by diagonal braces and at their top ends by a pair of angle irons 7 and 8 as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The angle iron-s 7 and 8 are secured in spaced relation at their ends by means of tubes 11 and 12 bolted or screwed to the side flanges thereof. V Suspended between and secured to the inner lateral faces of the angle bars 7 and 8 is a tank 13 having a rounded bottom.

Supported on the upper flanges of the angle bars 7 and 8 at their ends are a plurality of brackets 15. 16, 17 and 18. The ends of these brackets are apertured to accommodate bolts for securing them to the angle bars 7 and 8. The vertical flanges of the brackets 15, 16, 17 and 18 each consist of a rectangular frame 21, 22, 23 and 24. Secured within each of these frames is a pair of bearing blocks 26 and 27. The inner blocks 26 of each pair are longitudinally movable with respect to theremaining block and are con stantly urged toward them by means of rings carried in the sockets 28, as clearly :hown in Fig. 3.

Supported on the horizontal flanges of the brackets 16 and 17 are yokes 31 and 32, provided intermediate their ends with bearings 33 and 34. The yoke 31, the bracket 16,

the angle bar 8 and the leg directly beneath the bracket 16 are all secured together by means of a bolt passing thru these members and anchored in a plug within this leg. The bracket 17, yoke 32, and the angle bar 8, are in a like manner secured to the leg beneath these members.

Mounted in the frames 23 and 24 of the brackets 17 and 18, are a pair of shafts 37 and 38. Keyed to the shaft 37 are a plurality of spaced rollers 39 adapted to regis ter with a luralit-y of spaced rollers 41 keyed to the s aft 38. A gear 42 keyed to the shaft 37 is adapted to mesh with a gear 43 keyed to the shaft 38. A reduced portion of the shaft 37 extends thru one of the hearing blocks carried by the frame 23 and is journalled in the bearing 34 provided on the yoke 32. Keyed to this shaft extension within the yoke 32 is a sprocket 44. I

Wringer rollers 46 and 47 are secured to shafts 48 and 49 which in turn are journalled in the bearing blocks 26 and 27 carried by the frames 21 and 22 of the brackets and The right hand end of the shaft 49, as shown in Fig. 1, is journalled in the bearing 33 of the yoke 31 and has keyed to it within the yoke a sprocket 51. The sprocket 51 drives a chain 52 which in turn drives the sprocket 44. To the outer end of the shaft 49 is secured a drive pulley 53, driven by means of a belt 54 passing over a small pulley 55 of an electric motor 56. This motor is conveniently mounted on a table 57 secured to the diagonal braces of the frame 6.

Suspended within the tank 13 are a plurality of spaced pairs of complementary guide members 61 and 62. As shown in Figs.

4 and 5, not only is each pair of guide members spaced, butthe guide member 61 of each pair is spaced from its complementary guide member 62. The guide members 61 are supported at one end by means of a rod 63 secured at its ends to clips 64. The clips 64 may be secured to the brackets 15, 16, 17 and 18 in any convenient manner. The opposite ends of the guide members 61 are supported in a similar manner by means of a rod 65. The lower guide members 62 are supported by means of rods 66 and 67. Tubes 68 telescoped over the rods 63, 65, 66 and 67 serve to maintain the guide members 61 and 62 in horizontally spaced relation.

The lower end of the tank 13 is provided with an outlet valve 7110: re ating the water level within the tank. rays 72 and 73 are secured to the tubes 11 and 12 respec tively in any suitable manner and are of such dimenslons "8.8. 150 conveniently accommodate a plurality of matrices.

The operation ofthe device is as follows:

The motor 56 dri ves the pulley 53 and consequently the shaft 49 to which the sprocket 51 is keyed. The sprocket 51 drives the chain 52 thereby drivin the shaft 37 to which the sprocket wheel 4% i8 keyed. Since the gear wheels 42 and 43 are always in mesh, the

rollers 39 and 41 are positively driven but in opposite directions. The only means for effecting the rotation of the wringer' roller 46 is its frictional enga ement with the roller 47, this latter roller being of course itively driven by means of the shaft 49. 0th of these wringer rollers are covered with sleeves of comparatively soft rubber. As above explained, the frictional engagement of these wringer rollers as well as the rollers 39 and 41 may be adjusted at will by changing the tension on the springs carried within the sockets 28.

After the water level, within the tank 13, has been adjusted to secure the proper static head, the motor 56 may be at into operation. The dry matrices to conditioned, carried by the tray 72, are introduced one at a time between the rollers 39 and 41,and are thereby immersed in the tank 13 between prior to the disengagement of rollers 39 and 41 with the matrices they are frictionally engaged between the wringer rollers 46 and 47.

The wringer rollers 46 and 47 accomplish three distinct functions. First they --pull the matrices from the tank into the receiving tray. Second they aid in impre nating the matrices with water and third they express all but a predetermined quantity of the water absorbedby the matrices. V

This apparatus and process furnishes three distinct ways of regulatin the extent to which the matrices are moistened, namely the depth of immersion, the time interval of immersion and the impregnating and expressing action of the wringer rollers.

Matrices so treated are found to be uniformly moistenedand therefore taken an even print impression and dry uniforml without the formation of objectionable h lows and depressions and the consequent imperfections 1n the printing pla I claim:

1. Apparatus for uniformly moistening dry matrices comprising a tank containing the spaced guide members 61 and 62. Just a liquid, a pair of feed rollers journaled above and at one end of said tank for feeding the matrices through said liquid, a pair of wringer rollers journaled above and at the other end of said tank for expressing excess liquid from the matrices after passage therethrough, a plurality of pairs of spaced guide bars spanning said feed'and wringer rollers; said bars being curved so as to be partially immersed in the liquid and being ar ranged so that one bar of each pair is below the other bar of said pair to provide passages for the matrices, and means for driving said rollers.

2. Apparatus for uniformly moistening dry matrices comprising a tank containing a liquid, a pair of feed rollers in frictional engagement with one another for feeding the matrices through said liquid at a predetermined and constant rate, a pair of wringer rollers in frictional engagement with one another for drawing the matrices from the liquid at said rate and for expressing excess liquid therefrom, means for adjusting the frictional engagement of said pairs of roll ers, a plurality of pairs of spaced guide bars spanning said feed and wringer rollers and partially immersed in said liquid; said bars being arranged so that one bar of each pair is spaced below the other bar of said pair to provide passages through the liquid for the matrices, and means for driving said rollers at said rate.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

CHARLES A. PITTS. 

